Director Gerard de Thame has joined Believe Media for representation in the U.S. and parts of Europe, thus ending his long tenure with HSI Productions. Accompanying de Thame to Believe is his producer Fabyan Daw, managing director of Gerard de Thame Films in London, which continues to handle de Thame in the U.K. market.
At press time, de Thame was in London wrapping up the visual effects on a Prudential campaign, his last project at HSI; the job was done as a co-production with Gerard de Thame Films. “I have enjoyed my time with HSI,” said de Thame, “but this is an industry that never stands still, and it was simply time to shake things up. With a shared vision and considerable passion, Believe was a natural choice.”
De Thame began his career in London where he made his mark directing memorable and award-winning music videos and advertising campaigns. His work quickly caught on in the U.S., and de Thame made his stateside home at HSI where he resided until now. He has directed such notable American ads as Volkswagen Jetta’s “Synchronicity” for Arnold Worldwide, Boston, and Mercedes-Benz’s “Modern Ark” for the then Merkley Newman Harty, New York (now Merkley & Partners)–both of which were nominated for primetime commercial Emmy Awards in 1999 and 2001, respectively. “Synchronicity” also earned the distinction of being inducted into New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Over the years, de Thame has helmed work for Nike, Samsung and Jeep, among assorted other clients.
After 20 Years of Acting, Megan Park Finds Her Groove In The Director’s Chair On “My Old Ass”
Megan Park feels a little bad that her movie is making so many people cry. It's not just a single tear either — more like full body sobs.
She didn't set out to make a tearjerker with "My Old Ass," now streaming on Prime Video. She just wanted to tell a story about a young woman in conversation with her older self. The film is quite funny (the dialogue between 18-year-old and almost 40-year-old Elliott happens because of a mushroom trip that includes a Justin Bieber cover), but it packs an emotional punch, too.
Writing, Park said, is often her way of working through things. When she put pen to paper on "My Old Ass," she was a new mom and staying in her childhood bedroom during the pandemic. One night, she and her whole nuclear family slept under the same roof. She didn't know it then, but it would be the last time, and she started wondering what it would be like to have known that.
In the film, older Elliott ( Aubrey Plaza ) advises younger Elliott ( Maisy Stella ) to not be so eager to leave her provincial town, her younger brothers and her parents and to slow down and appreciate things as they are. She also tells her to stay away from a guy named Chad who she meets the next day and discovers that, unfortunately, he's quite cute.
At 38, Park is just getting started as a filmmaker. Her first, "The Fallout," in which Jenna Ortega plays a teen in the aftermath of a school shooting, had one of those pandemic releases that didn't even feel real. But it did get the attention of Margot Robbie 's production company LuckyChap Entertainment, who reached out to Park to see what other ideas she had brewing.
"They were very instrumental in encouraging me to go with it," Park said. "They're just really even-keeled, good people, which makes... Read More